MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (November 10, 2005) --- The Milligan College Buffaloes basketball team improved to 2-1 on the season with a 96-70 victory over Temple Baptist (Ohio) College on Thursday evening at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. Temple Baptist drops to 0-2 on the season.

The Buffaloes jumped out to an early 8-5 lead after a lay up from junior Zach Dezarn (Franklin, Ohio) which was followed by a timeout called by Temple Baptist 2:23 into the contest.

Milligan pulled away, by as many as seven points only to see a 15 foot jumper from Vondaze Thornton make the score 18-15 in favor of Milligan. The Rams could not come any closer as the Buffs extended the lead to 38-17 after a three point basket from freshman Tino Washington (Lexington, Ky.) with 5:11 left in the first half. Milligan went into the halftime break with a 46-30 lead.

The Buffs opened the second half with a flurry of points, and eventually led by as many as 30 after a Tony Brogan (Tazewell, Tenn.) lay up with 10:42 left in the contest. Temple Baptist tried to cut into the lead but could only come within 19 points late in the contest.

For the Buffaloes, freshman center Jeff Barnes (Franklin, Tenn.) led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed a game high of 11 rebounds. Barnes scored his 20 points as he went 8-of-13 from the field. Zach Dezarn added 16 points while Adrian Harrison (Greensboro, N.C.) and Josh Terry (Jonesville, Va.) contributed 14 and 13 points respectively.

Milligan shot 59 pct. from the field including Dezarn as he was 7-of-10 and Harrison’s 7-of-12 night from the floor.

Temple Baptist was led by Darrelle Russia with 20 points and Joel Wynn added 11 points.

The Buffs will open the Appalachian Athletic Conference season on November 19 at Union College with a 6 p.m. tip off from Barbourville, Ky.